<a href="http://luigirosselli.com/Kirribilli-House/" target="_blank">Luigi Rosselli Architects</a> designed this modern rammed earth home in Sydney to provide a comfortable interior climate, lots of natural light, and a connection with nature while minimizing energy needs and the home's environmental impact. The Kirribilli House makes use of a large <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rammed-earth">rammed earth wall</a>, which serves as the home's spine and moderates the interior temperature during the day and night. The architects also incorporated skylights, daylighting, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/shade-screens">shade screens</a>, a green roof, solar power, and rainwater collection to help reduce the single family residence's impact.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

The client's brief to the architect was to make the home as comfortable as possible in terms of its interior climate.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

"It's not a question of good padding on the lounges but the ability of a building to provide a climatically comfortable environment, a place where you seek refuge from the heat of the day or in the cold nights, without having to barricade yourself behind hermetically shut windows," say Luigi Rosselli Architects.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

To achieve climatic comfort, the firm decided to incorporate a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rammed-earth">rammed earth</a> spine along the length of the house that links all the levels.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

The rammed earth wall is a passive green building element that soaks up heat during the day and releases it at night.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

As a result, the interior stays cool during the day but doesn't freeze at night.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Three courtyards and gardens extend the living space outdoors and infuse <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/daylighting">daylight</a> and ventilation throughout the project.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Skylights and external shutters cooperate to maximize daylight and temper heat gain, while a<a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/green-roof"> living roof</a> insulates from above.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Over 14,000 liters of rainwater is collected and stored in tanks within the house - like a camel, it could survive for some time on a small amount of water.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

A photovoltaic and solar hot water system reduces the home's demand on energy from the grid.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

The livable waterfront residence won an AIA sustainable design award for 2011. Landscape architecture was provided by <a href="http://terragram.com.au/Kirribilli/" target="_blank">Terragram</a>.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Left: An outdoor water feature in one of the courtyards.
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Right: stairs leading to a deck.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Landscaping by Terragram.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Side pathways to reach the back of the house.

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Kirribilli House-Luigi Rosselli Architects

Luigi Rosselli Architects designed this modern rammed earth home in Sydney to provide a comfortable interior climate, lots of natural light, and a connection with nature while minimizing energy needs and the home's environmental impact. The Kirribilli House makes use of a large rammed earth wall, which serves as the home's spine and moderates the interior temperature during the day and night. The architects also incorporated skylights, daylighting, shade screens, a green roof, solar power, and rainwater collection to help reduce the single family residence's impact.